In what was called a response to the ambushing of Selma police officers at the George Washington Carver (GWC) homes earlier this week, Selma Police Department Chief Spencer Collier said that a multiple law enforcement agency saturation detail on Thursday night was a success.

The ambush occurred as a veteran Selma officer was responding to a dispatched call for service.

As the officer entered the rear of the complex in a remote location with limited ingress and egress, his vehicle was fired upon from the rear and was struck multiple times by rounds from a semi-automatic rifle, according to Collier. The gunfire shattered the rear window of the vehicle and penetrated the rear and side of the vehicle with several rounds embedding in the front driver and passenger area.

Collier said the officer was not struck, and multiple officers responded to assist.

Collier said the suspect escaped the area.

“Unfortunately, GWC has become the location of choice to cowardly ambush our officers while responding to false calls. These are not situations in which the offenders engage the officers directly,” Collier said. “Like the cowards and weasels they are, their general modus operandi is to fire upon officers from a hidden position blocks away in the large complex and then flee into an awaiting vehicle or home. They also capitalize on the fact that the sprawling complex is most often filled with innocent children playing outside. Our tactical response generally requires sweeping the very large area on foot.”

Immediately following the foot patrol of GWC Homes, all state and federal officers provided Selma PD with over eight hours of patrol assistance.

The operation established a goal of zero tolerance and multiple felony and misdemeanor arrests were made throughout the night. Most charges were narcotic related, but additional several illegal weapons were seized.